Tree-ring based spring precipitation reconstruction in western Nepal Himalaya since AD 1840

Spring (March-June) precipitation has been reconstructed since AD 1840 for the Rara National Park (RNP), western Nepal Himalaya using Abies spectabilis tree-ring width. The reconstruction accounts for 35.8% of the total variance of the instrumental precipitation from 1958 to 2012 and captured distinct wet and dry variability. The longest wet periods occurred during 1850-1862, 1878-1886, 1909-1917, 1971-1984 and 2000-2008 while dry periods were usually shorter and occurred during 1873-1877, 1921-1923, 1925-1929, 1951-1956, 1958-1962 and 1994-1996. Spectral analysis of the reconstruction shows significant peaks at periodicity ranging 2.4-6.5year, suggesting a covariation in inter-annual variability similar to that of El Nifio-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Spectral analysis of the reconstruction shows significant quasi-cyclic (2.4-3.4 year) and multidecadal (24.8-39.2 year) periodicity, suggesting a potential association with El Nifio-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). (C) 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.